While we’re on the topic of organic methods of pest control, here’s an Heirloom Orchardist suggestion for battling the dreaded Curculio:
The Cultivator & Country Gentleman
Albany, New York
April 21, 1881
Vol. XLVI, No. 1473
Catching Curculios.
After trying several different contrivances for jarring down curculios from plum trees, the mode represented in fig. 1 proves the most convenient for moderate sized orchards. Buy stout muslin two yards wide or more, or else sew two narrower pieces together, so as to make a piece about two yards square, or two by three yards, or of any other convenient size for handling. Stiffen it with light rods across the ends, and with one rod at the middle, to keep them apart, and to serve as a handle, as shown by the figure. 
Let it be a little slack, so as to give a slightly concave form to the sheet. Iron plugs having been previously inserted in the tree, or into each main branch, the operator holds this sheet in his left hand, under one side of the tree, and with a heavy hammer in his right hand, strikes the iron plug, which brings down the curculios on the sheet, and rolling down to the concave part, they are quickly crushed with thumb and finger, if few, or dumped into a pail of hot water or a pan of kerosene, if many. If oilcloth was substituted for the muslin, it would not become wet on dewy mornings, and the "bugs" would roll freely down its surface. The only trouble we have had with this catcher, in connection with the iron plugs, is that it has made such a clean sweep of the insects that the trees have been badly injured by overbearing. It was of course unremittingly and daily used.
To add to those detailed instructions, my only suggestion would be to make sure you wear your sunbonnet, as shown by the figure. Such a contrivance would ensure that the operator would not result in a head full of insects.
